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News about Muriella's Corner
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Visit http://www.unitednationsyak.com and read about Muriella's interviews with social entrepreneurs and change agents around the world talking about development and humanitarian issues and progress in the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Goals.
Muriella's corner newsletter will soon be available on podcasts, so that you can take the information with you in MP3 format and listen as you work or as you commute.
New Year Resolutions/Diet
Given the plethora of resolutions on diet and weight loss, this issue offers up two diets which readers might want to consider.
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Article 1 - The Aspartame Scandal
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The Thalidomide of the 90’s is Aspartame, otherwise known as
Equal, Nutrasweet or Spoonful
The Aspartame Scandal
by Betty Martini price-pottenger.org In May, 1992 an article in Flying Safety Magazine explained the dangers of this ubiquitous substance. Some people have triggered aspartame related disorders with doses as small as that carried in a single stick of chewing gum. This could mean a pilot who drinks diet sodas is more susceptible to flicker vertigo or to flicker-induced epileptic activity. It also means that all pilots are potential victims of sudden memory loss, dizziness during instrument flight and gradual loss of vision. Some pilots have experienced grand mal seizures in the cockpits of commercial airline flights and have lost medical certification to fly -- and with it their careers. The FDA has received more than 10,000 consumer complaints on Nutra-Poison. That’s 80% of all complaints about food additives, yet they remain comatose and have done nothing to alert the American consumer who assumes, since it’s so highly advertised, that it must be safe as mother’s milk. If you are using aspartame and have headaches, depression, slurred speech, loss of memory, fibromyalgia type symptoms, loss of sensation in lower legs or shooting pains, loss of equilibrium, vertigo, anxiety attacks, chronic fatigue, vision loss, floaters, retinal detachment, seizures, heart palpitations, etc., you have Aspartame Disease! Many physicians are diagnosing multiple sclerosis when in reality it is methanol toxicity which mimics MS. Get off this dangerous drug right away. MS is not a death sentence, but methanol toxicity is! Fifty-one percent of FDA approved drugs have serious risks and could cause adverse reactions that lead to severe or permanent disability or death. The Center for Disease Control, Johns Hopkins University and the New Jersey School of Medicine estimate that 80,000-120,000 Americans are killed by prescription drugs every year. That this atrocious holocaust persists has everything to do with money and nothing to do with public health. Monsanto reaps $2 billion per year from the Aspartame toxic bonanza. This can buy a lot of bureaucrats! Does FDA mean Fatal Drugs Allowed? The FDA works for industry, not citizens. FDA head Arthur Hayes overruled his own board of inquiry to approve aspartame and then went to work for their public relations firm. Federal attorney Sam Skinner was assigned to prosecute Searle for fraudulent tests in their application, but switched sides and went to work for Searle’s lawyers and the case died when the statute of limitations ran out. Honest FDA toxicologist, the late Dr. Adrian Gross, wrote to Senator Howard Metzenbaum: “The views of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety read like a script written for Abbott & Costello in the sense of their having perceptions inside-out and upside-down. ... FDA may have gone through the motions. ... such a ‘process’ or dance represents a farce and a mockery.” Aspartame is a molecule composed of three components: aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol. Methanol is wood alcohol that has killed or blinded thousands of skid row drunks. It converts into formaldehyde and formic acid (ant sting poison) in the gut. Formaldehyde, a deadly neurotoxin, is common embalming fluid, a Class A carcinogen. Phenylalanine is also neurotoxic when unaccompanied by the other amino acids in proteins. Aspartic acid causes brain lesions and neuroendocrine disorders in experimental animals. There are 92 documented symptoms including headaches, numbness, fatigue, blurred vision, heart palpitations, memory loss, dizziness, muscle spasms, weight gain, seizures, rashes, blindness, tachycardia, tinnitus, joint pain, nausea, depression , hearing loss, irritability, slurred speech, anxiety attacks, loss of taste, vertigo and insomnia. Nutrasweet is in about 9,000 foods and on every restaurant table for the same reasons tobacco is everywhere: Greed, Addiction and Profit! The NutraSweet Company and sister Searle, whose chemists discovered aspartame while testing an ulcer drug, are owned by Monsanto. If you are taking other medicine, consider possible reactions you may have. In 1969, Searle approached Dr. Harry Waisman to study the effects of aspartame on primates. Seven infant monkeys were fed the chemical in milk. One died after 300 days; five others had grand mal seizures. Searle deleted these findings when they submitted this study to the FDA! The best way to understand NutraSweet is to think of it as a minute dose of nerve gas that eradicates brain and nerve functions. Some diseases triggered by aspartame include brain tumors and other cancers, Alzheimers, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, epilepsy, mental retardation, fibromyalgia, lymphoma, Graves disease, birth defects, chronic fatigue syndrome, systemic lupus, Epstein Barr, Parkinsons and ... death! Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology surveyed 80 people who suffered brain seizures after eating or drinking products with aspartame. Said the Community Nutrition Institute: “These 80 cases meet the FDA’s own definition of an imminent hazard to the public health, which requires the FDA to expeditiously remove a product from the market.” America is seeing a tremendous increase in seizures. Phenylalanine in aspartame lowers the seizure threshold in the brain and blocks serotonin production. Today our nation is swept by a rage of violence. Researchers attribute this in part to low brain serotonin levels inducing depression, rage and paranoia. So President Clinton, Diet Coke in hand, programs billions of dollars to buy penitentiaries for the paranoid. Fetal tissue cannot tolerate methanol and Dr. James Bowen calls NutraSweet instant birth control. The fetal placenta can concentrate phenylalanine and cause mental retardation. Aspartame tests on animals produced brain and mammary tumors. No wonder breast cancer is growing exponentially! During Operation Desert Storm truckloads of diet drinks cooked in the Arabian sun and at 86 degrees aspartame liberates methanol in the can! Thousands of service men and women returned home with chronic fatigue syndrome and weird toxic symptoms. On July 28, 1993 the National Soft Drink Association drafted a 30-page protest questioning the safety of aspartame in soft drinks. Then they found weight-conscious Americans would sip soda all day if it was sugarless, so they forgot their objections; nor did they tell us that aspartame makes you crave carbohydrates and so you gain weight. The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly on the hips and thighs. Drink diet soda, get fat now and later develop seizures, diabetes, blindness, Epstein Barr, MS, depression and death. Similarly, the American Diabetic Association, which now receives mega-funds from NutraSweet, ignored a 1987 abstract submitted by Dr. H. J. Roberts (world expert on aspartame and diabetic specialist) summarizing 58 diabetic aspartame reactors. He says: “I now advise all patients with diabetes and hypoglycemia to avoid aspartame products.” In his book Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, Russell Blaylock, MD, a neurosurgeon, says aspartame may trigger clinical diabetes! He says that excitotoxins such as NutraSweet literally stimulate neurons to death, causing brain damage of varying degrees. “What really concerns me about aspartame,” he says, “is its association with brain tumors as well as pancreatic, uterine and ovarian tumors. ... and that so many develop an Alzheimers-like syndrome with prolonged exposure.” NutraSweet/Equal/Spoonful are the deadliest toxins in our society because of their ubiquitous presence in thousands of foods, even vitamins, medicines, Kool Aid, Jell-O, diet foods and the packets on every restaurant table. We are dosed with millions of pounds every year. Every product containing aspartame should contain the following warning: Chemical Poison: Keep Out of Reach of Humans! Genocidal!
Betty Martini's Web Page is http://www.dorway.com/betty
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Article 2 - Healthier sweetener resources (excluding Splenda...)
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Splenda is Not a "Healthy" Sweetener
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The artificial sweetener Splenda is quickly gaining popularity in a market that was previously dominated by Equal and Sweet'N Low. In January 2003, Splenda even surpassed Equal in dollar-market share.
Splenda, the brand name for sugar-derivative sucralose, is converted from cane sugar to a no-calorie sweetener. It isn't recognized as sugar by the body and therefore is not metabolized...Brand Channel April 28, 2003
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Sugar substitutes and the potential danger of Splendaby Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP
Few of us are really aware of how many new Splenda® products there are in the supermarkets. We’ve been told that this artificial sweetener is different from all the past failures — Sweet’N Low®, NutraSweet®, etc. — and according to the claims, that this Splenda is the perfect sugar substitute: as sweet as sugar, but no calories; as sweet as sugar, but no surge in insulin; as sweet as sugar, but no side effects or long-term health damage.
Read more
Sweetener Resources
Healthy Sweetener Use Guide
Note: Many diabetics can use some amount of healthy caloric sweeteners such as evaporated cane
juice. Check with your healthcare practitioner for more information.
Other Sweeteners (Diabetic-Safe, Low-Carb)In addition to stevia, there are other natural sweeteners that are used by diabetics and persons eating a low carbohydrate diet. Such sweeteners include:
Lo Han Fruit Extract (SlimSweet, SugarNot)
R.W. Knudsen Diet Spritzers sweetened with Lo Han Concentrate (Order at your local natural foods store.)
Trutina Dulcem (Ki-Sweet)Thermofit (Small/Medium Orders); Thermosweet (Large Manufacturers only)
Agave Nectar & Syrup
Yacon Syrup (Molasses-like taste)
Ki-Sweet, Agave and Yacon Syrup are not "officially" recommended by this web site because a complete investigation has not been done. Stevia may be the best choice for a diabetic-safe, low-carbohydrate sweetener See the Healthier Sweetener Resource List for manufacturers and retailers.
Avoiding Hidden Aspartame & Artificial Sweeteners
Aspartame can be found on the ingredients list in the following products:
Soft drinks, over-the-counter drugs & prescription drugs (very common and listed under "inactive ingredients"), vitamin & herb supplements, yogurt, instant breakfasts, candy, breath mints, cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, cocoa mixes, coffee beverages, instant breakfasts, gelatin desserts, frozen desserts, juice beverages, laxatives, milk drinks, shake mixes, tabletop sweeteners, tea beverages, instant teas and coffees, topping mixes, wine coolers, etc.
Please check labels carefully and compare it against the list of "Sweeteners to Avoid". Many people make the mistake of not checking labels carefully and continue to poison themselves. In addition, many people do not realize that their children may be given aspartame- or other artificial sweetener-containing foods or drugs at school without their knowledge. (Note: In some countries such as Australia, the word "aspartame" may not appear on the label, but the phrase "Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine" appears instead.) Talk to the school director and to the local PTA to assure that this does not happen.
Many people find it much easier to avoid toxic sweeteners by shopping at the local, large health food store when possible. Many health food stores have banned artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame) for obvious reasons. But it is still important to check labels as some health food stores are unknowingly selling aspartame, acesulfame-k, and sucralose!
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Article 3 - Sugar and skin
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Health, September 2006
Sugar and Skin
Is there a link between sweets and wrinkles?
It’s no secret that your 3 o’clock Peanut M&M’s habit can affect your waistline. And now some experts are suggesting it could also make your skin age faster—which, in turn, is spawning a new crop of antiaging beauty products. Are they worth it? Some dermatologists believe eating more sugar than you need will speed up your body’s natural process of glycation—that’s when sugar and protein molecules gang up and get hostile toward collagen. And collagen damage can make your skin less elastic, more easily wrinkled, and more vulnerable to sun damage, according to Paul J. Beisswenger, MD, a diabetes researcher and Dartmouth Medical School professor of medicine.
Not all experts are convinced, though. “There’s probably some connection between too much sugar and your skin; we just don’t have enough data to show us what that is,” says Ranella Hirsch, MD, vice president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. “Most research has been small, commercially sponsored, or done on cells in a lab.” So it’s hard to know if results translate to your skin.
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Article 4 - Health benefits of Honey... where are the bees?
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Honey is an ancient food, of that, there’s no doubt. And, it’s an odd food--the nectar of a flower digested by an insect. Honey is made up of fructose, glucose and water. It’s not suitable for infants, so the National Honey Board suggests that parents not feed honey to babies. Honey may harbor a kind of bacteria that is dangerous for infants, but benign for older children and adults. And when you hear of bears fending off angry bees to steal honey, it’s not the honey they’re after, but the brood. The young immature bees are pure protein.
Although many recipes offer suggestions for substituting sugar with honey, it’s not always easy. Try first to halve the amount of sugar and add honey. But keep in mind that honey isn’t simply a sugar substitute but a delicacy of its own. It has a range of 300 flavors--from eucalyptus to wildflower nectars. The lighter the color, the milder the flavor will be. For example, clover will be milder than alfalfa.
Health Benefits Of Honey
Honey is a sweet treat. In fact, it is man's oldest sweetener. It can be a good substitute for sugar in our drinks and food. But it is also good for many other things and treating many other conditions. Reliance on commercialized medicines which contains too much chemicals can become hazardous to our health.
Honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate. It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which change according to the qualities of the nectar and pollen. Besides the above, copper, iodine, and zinc exist in it in small quantities. Several kinds of hormones are also present in it.
Approximately one half of the human diet is derived directly or indirectly from crops pollinated by bees. Today honeybees are an essential part of a healthy agriculture economy. If you have allergies, honey can be beneficial. If you eat honey that is local to your area, it may prevent your seasonal allergies. Bees use the pollen from local plants and eventually it ends up in your honey.
Honey may also be good for your skin. It has the ability to attract water. You can use honey instead of alpha hydroxy masks because of its high content of the acid. It is also safe for sensitive skin.
You can also use it as a moisturizing mask for your skin as well as your hair. To use it as a conditioner, mix the honey with olive oil. Be sure to wash your hair thoroughly before you go outside.
If you have a sore throat, take some honey.Due to its natural anti-inflammatory effect, it will help to heal the wounds more quickly.It also has different phytochemicals--chemicals found in plants and different foods--that kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus making it a good substitute for wound dressings. The taste may also take your mind off the pain.
There is evidence that honey diluted in water will help with your stomachaches and dehydration.
Germ-Fighting Properties
Do you have a cut? Honey is a natural antiseptic. Medical journals cite more than 600 cases in which honey was employed to treat wounds.By applying honey to your wounds, you prevent infections. Honey contains antimicrobial agents, which prevents infections by killing the bacteria in and around your wounds. When using honey it may help to heat it up before putting it on your wound (caution test the heat before you place it on the wound).Many types of bacteria can’t survive in honey, so wounds heal, swelling eases, and tissue can grow back.
Honey may also be effective in the treatment of your ulcers.In Europe, honey has been used internally to help cure ulcers, particularly stomach ulcers.
Burns, too, heal better with honey, studies show. The advantage of honey is that it not only prevents infections from occurring, it actually accelerates skin healing.. Since the sugar in honey absorbs water it helps to trap some of the moisture so that the bacteria and other microbes can’t grow as easily as in other food.
How Does It Help In Healing Wounds?
When honey comes into contact with body moisture, the glucose oxidase enzyme introduced to the honey by the bee slowly releases the antiseptic hydrogen peroxide at a sufficient level to be effective against bacteria but not tissue damaging. Not only is honey anti-bacterial, it also draws body fluids and nutrients to the area and so assists cell growth and prevents a scar forming by drying out of the wound.
The osmotic action of the honey draws out and provides a film of liquid between the tissues and the dressing, allowing the dressing to be removed painlessly, without tearing of the re-growing cells. There are reports in medical journals of large bed sores, otherwise needing skin grafts, that have healed without scarring after honey treatment.
In treating diarrhea, honey promotes the rehydration of the body and more quickly clears up the diarrhea and any vomiting and stomach upsets. The anti-bacterial properties of honey, both the peroxide and non-peroxide, are effective in the laboratory against MRSA strains of bacteria which are notoriously resistant to antibiotics and are sometimes responsible for the closing of hospital wards.
Other Benefits of Honey
Easily digested: Because sugar molecules in honey can convert into other sugars (e.g. fructose to glucose), honey is easily digested by the most sensitive stomachs, despite its high acid content. It helps kidneys and intestines to function better.
Good source of antioxidants: It plays a big role in the prevention of cancer as well as heart disease.
Has a low calorie level: Another quality of honey is that, when it is compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight.
Rapidly diffuses through the blood: When accompanied by mild water, honey diffuses into the bloodstream in 7 minutes. Its free sugar molecules make the brain function better since the brain is the largest consumer of sugar, thus, reduces fatigue.
Supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation. It also functions as a protection against capillary problems and arteriosclerosis.
Does not accommodate bacteria: This bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named "the inhibition effect". Experiments conducted on honey show that its bactericide properties increase twofold when diluted with water. It is very interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony are nourished with diluted honey by the bees responsible for their supervision - as if they know this feature of the honey.
Royal Jelly: Royal jelly is a substance produced by worker bees inside the beehive. Inside this nutritious substance are sugar, proteins, fats and many vitamins. It is used in problems caused by tissue deficiency or body frailty.
It is obvious that honey, which is produced in much higher amounts than the requirements of the bees, is made for the benefit of man. And it is also obvious that bees cannot perform such an unbelievable task "on their own."
Mystery Bee Disappearances Sweeping U.S. | |
February 23, 2007 Without a trace, something is causing bees to vanish by the thousands. But a new task force hopes to finger the culprit and save the valuable crops that rely on the insects. Pennsylvania beekeeper Dave Hackenberg was the first beekeeper to report to bee researchers what's become known as colony collapse disorder (CCD). |
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Article 5 - No flour, no sugar diet
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This diet, unlike most, actually has some merit. Here, we'll look at its benefits and its shortcomings. (ref: supplecity.com)
Diet describedThe no sugar no flour diet is exactly what it says it is. The idea behind this diet is you avoid the junk calories you would get from foods containing sugar or flour. Note that sugar comes in many forms. If you read a label, you may not see sugar at all--but the product may be loaded with sugar in the form of maltodextrin, fructose, corn syrup solids, high fructose corn syrup, and so on. Usually when you see flour on a label, that flour has been so highly processed it has the same effect on you that table sugar does. Thus, by avoiding flour as well as sugar you minimize empty calories. Another issue with flour-based products, is they typically also include hydrogenated oil--which is very, very nasty. What's wrong with flour and sugarLet's include "flour," from this point forward, in "sugar"--with the assumption we mean highly processed flour. Note that flour is usually highly processed. When we say sugar, we are talking about all highly refined carbohydrates plus root vegetables and cultured grains (e.g., corn) but not carbohydrates in general. Here are some drawbacks to sugar in your diet: Provides nutrient-free calories, rather than the "calories plus nutrition" you get in whole foods. It makes foods more calorie-dense, meaning you get more calories from the same amount of food. Typically, sugar is added and unnecessary. When you eat a piece of broccoli, you get the carbohydrates in the broccoli. You get enough carbohydrates from your normal foods (fruits, vegetables, and barely processed grains) without adding more. Sugar causes unwanted responses. Because sugar (as defined here--highly processed carbohydrates) is highly glycemic, you get a huge and harmful insulin response. One result of this is your body converts the sugar to fat for storage. See our articles: How Calories Become Fat and Hidden calories: how to find them, how to fight them.
Benefits of the dietSimply put, the diet removes the harmful overdose of highly-glycemic sugar. This alone will cause a reduction in the rate of bodyfat accumulation, even if your calories remain the same. However, if you are taking in more calories than you are burning off you wil still gain fat. And don't think you can just burn off the extra calories by going for a walk after gorging yourself. If you work a 40 hour week and tell your boss you are going to use 100% of your time for a full week to walk on a treadmill, you will lose just under a pound of fat by the end of that week. Think you can go to the gym to burn it off? Good luck. You have to do about 10,000 situps to burn a pound of fat. So, the key is calorie reduction. If your diet includes added junk like bagels, bread, pastries, and so on--eliminating those things without replacing them with something else may tip the balance toward fat reduction. An added bonus of this diet is most flour-based products also contain hydrogenated oil. This toxin is so carcinogenic that you run a high risk of colon cancer simply by eating it. So, this diet addresses some major problems. Shortcomings of the dietWhile this diet addresses some major problems and eliminates the number one source of additional body fat for the typical person of today, it is fundamentally flawed. That's because it's an exclusion diet. In other words, it tells you what not to eat--but fails to tell you what to eat. Yes, if you eat a lot of sugar this diet will certainly help. But, it will not correct your other dietary problems. That is a flaw that all "diets" have. This diet is simply part of an overall intelligent eating plan. It is not, and cannot be, such a plan itself. What should you do? If you haven't done anything to address your nutrition, start with this diet--then, develop an eating plan for what you should be eating, how much you should be eating, and when to eat.
Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar(TM) Cookbook
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Stevia: The Bittersweet Story |
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By Stephanie Rose Bird |
18/12/2003 |
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Stevia is an herb that holds promise as a non-caloric, natural sweetener. Though it may not yet be swirling around in your coffee or tea, stevia has been used as a healing herb in South America for hundreds of years. Stevia is steeped in folklore and immersed in controversy.
Stevia Herb
Stevia is a member of the chrysanthemum family of plants. Originally, stevia grew wild in the highland regions of Northern Paraguay and Southern Brazil. The Guarani Indians used it since ancient times. Spanish and Portuguese farmers cultivated it. The late 19th century doctor, Moises Santiago Bertoni, is the first Westerner to discover it and champion its use. Its scientific name, Stevia rebuadiani Bertoni, was punned in honor of Rebuadi, a Paraguayan chemist, and Dr. Moises Santiago Bertoni. Stevia grows in China, Japan and other Asian countries, South America, India, Europe and the United States.
What Makes Stevia Different from Other Sweeteners
In the past, natural products such as honey, sugar and maple syrup were our primary sweeteners; today, the sugar shelves are crowded with both natural and synthetic products. Sweet ‘n Low ™ (saccharin), NutraSweet and Equal ™ (aspartame) and Splenda ™ (sucralose) are the industry giants. Sweet ‘n Low ™ is labeled with warnings because it causes cancer in laboratory animals, while NutraSweet ™ has been under close scrutiny by consumers and the FDA for years.
Drs. Richard and Rachel Heller, authors of The Carbohydrate Addicts Life Span Program assert, “The sweetness of sugar substitutes can falsely signal [to the] body that a 'sweet meal' is coming and excess insulin may be released so as to handle the expected onslaught of high caloric foods. When no carbohydrates are forthcoming, the high levels of insulin that remain can easily lead to increases in cravings, weight-gain and associated health risks.” (Heller, R; Heller R. 2000)
The Hellers contend that sugar substitutes are addictive. Another disturbing finding points to a carbohydrate, insulin and fat connection. There are indications that excessive amounts of insulin in the bloodstream cause us to store more fat and crave starches, snack foods and sweets-this, of course, delivers a double whammy for weight-watchers.
Linda and Bill Bonvie, investigative reporters and vocal proponents of Stevia, point out that 75% of all non-drug related consumer complaints are concerning aspartame. Dizziness, headaches, seizures and multiple sclerosis-like symptoms have all been reported, yet the FDA will not take action against the aspartame manufacturer.
The relationship between consumers, the FDA, artificial sweeteners and the naturally sweet herb Stevia is intense. Some people prefer Stevia to artificial sweeteners because it is natural. Stevia also has health benefits. It contains vitamins and minerals and it has been used to treat indigestion, tooth decay and skin disorders.
Stevia in the Midst of Trade Wars
Stevia has enjoyed widespread use in Japan and a few other countries since the early 1970s. In Japan, there is a multimillion-dollar market for stevia, with a 41% market share of the sweetener industry. It is used in Japan in ice cream, candies, pickles and soft drinks (Bonvie, L; Bonvie, B, 1996).
Initially there was a great deal of enthusiasm for Stevia within tea manufacturing corporations in the United States. Thomas J. Lipton ™; Celestial Seasonings™; Traditional Medicinals™ and smaller companies added Stevia to certain blends, which presumably sold well.
In the 1980s, representatives from an anonymous firm lodged a trade complaint with the FDA against the importation and use of Stevia (Bonvie, L; Bonvie, B, 1998). Though Stevia had been health tested internationally for over 50 years, in 1991 the herb was placed on “import alert” (No: 45-06, May 17, 1991). A virtual banishing of Stevia in the United States followed. In 1994, the FDA was forced to modify its alert because of the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act). This act allows Stevia to be sold as a dietary supplement (Bonvie, L; Bonvie, B, 1996). The United States government continues to restrict its use in teas and other food products. It cannot be sold in the sugar or artificial sugar section of the supermarket. Stevia manufacturers cannot package the herb with imagery that suggests that it is a sweetener for coffee and such, though it is. Apparently, the FDA still believes Stevia is an “unsafe food additive” and a potential health threat (Bonvie, L; Bonvie, B, 1996).
In 1997, reports that Stevia is a potential cause of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) circulated as a result of the graduate work of Brazilian Maurio Alvarez. Alvarez believes his study was taken out of context (Bonvie, L; Bonvie, B, 1998). To this day, no scientific test has demonstrated that Stevia poses any health threats. The Herb Research Foundation (HRF), America’s foremost source of accurate, science-based information on the health benefits and safety of herbs and dedicated to responsible informed self-care with medicinal plants, put out a very strong endorsement for Stevia. “The FDA took action against Stevia, not based on any proclamation by the FDA toxicologist or consumer complaints, but because of a complaint from a company that didn’t want Stevia on the market.” This statement was made by Robert S. McCaleb, founder and director of HRF. McCaleb is an internationally recognized authority on scientific and regulatory issues affecting herbs.
Common Forms of Stevia
You will have to look long and hard to find Stevia even at large health food markets such as Whole Foods. It might be found near additives such as enzymes, brewers yeast or even protein powders, though clearly it belongs on the shelves with sweeteners. Here are the common forms of Stevia sold in the US:
Pulverized leaves, sold by the pound or as a tea. The leaves are green making them useful to blend into homemade remedies and personal tea blends. The leaves have a flavor (which some find offensive) similar to anise, fennel or licorice. Leaf powder is estimated to be 30 times sweeter than sugar. (Bonvie, L; Bonvie, B, 1996)
One form of the liquiliquefied Steviad is an extract concentrated black liquid, resulting from boiling the leaves in water. This type is black. Clear liquid extracts are also available, readymade by various manufacturers. Liquefied Stevia extract is estimated to be 70 times sweeter than sugar. (Bonvie, L; Bonvie, B, 1996) (Most liquid forms of Stevia are best avoided by Muslims as they are formed by using alcohol).
For those seeking convenience, the extract powder is the best choice. The power is isolated compounds of the naturally sweet constituents in Stevia, Rebaudioside A. and Stevioside, sold as a white powder in packets similar to the new sweetening product, Splenda ™ and the other packaged sweeteners. The white powder is estimated to be 300 times sweeter than sugar and heat stable to 198 degrees Celsius (388 degrees Fahrenheit) (Bonvie, L; Bonvie, B, 1996).
The Pros & Cons of Stevia
Cons:
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Some manufacturers adulterate Stevia with other products, even sugar.
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Some customers have complained that Stevia causes headaches and tastes awful [Amazon.com customer reviews of ‘The Stevia Cookbook’ (Sahelian, R; Gates, D, 1999)].
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No conclusive reports on safety.
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Not regulated as a food, but rather as a supplement.
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Not always clear how to use it to replace sugar or sugar substitutes.
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Difficult to use for baking, does not react as with other leaveners nor does it caramelize.
Pros:
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Nutritious; contains vitamins and minerals.
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Shown to attack plaque, improving oral hygiene and health.
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Safe to use for diabetes, obesity and those with high blood pressure.
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You can grow it yourself.
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Contains no calories.
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Has no impact on blood sugar.
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All natural.
Conclusion
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Anything in excess is toxic.
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Read labels carefully. Make sure that if the product is enhanced it is enhanced with substances you approve of. Some Stevia powders contain fiber that quickly acts as a strong laxative if combined with coffee (a known laxative).
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Buy from reputable sources, as prices vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer.
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Allergists suggest adding new substances, even natural ones, to the diet slowly and watching carefully for any unusual or troubling symptoms. Stay tuned for more about Stevia.
- * Stephanie Rose Bird is an African American writer dedicated to writing about the natural world.She is an herbalist and aromatherapist and a member of the Herb Research Foundation and a professional member of the Handicrafted Soap Makers Guild. Stephanie is currently an independent scholar but formerly held the position of Assistant Professor and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL.She is a columnist for “Sage Woman” Magazine and her work has also been published by "Natural Home”, "The Herb Companion”, "Llewellyn's Herbal Almanac”, "Llewellyn's Magical Almanac” and "The Beltane Papers.”She can be reached at: stephanierosebird@womanmade.net
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Article 6 - Acid alkaline diet
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The Acid Alkaline Balance Diet : An Innovative Program for Ridding Your Body of Acidic WastesThe Acid-Alkaline Balance Diet advocates a sensible food-combination program in conjunction with herbal medicine therapies to balance the positively charged acidic particles in the body with the negatively charged particles. In this book, Felicia Drury Kliment tells you how to lose weight and enhance your health by balancing your Acid Alkaline pH. Read More
TIPs FROM FELICIA Kliment offers these tips to help her readers with post-holiday health problems like dieting, weight gain and gastro-intestinal complications. These tips will help readers to maintain their healthy lifestyle when confronted with rich, unhealthy mounds of food that are impossible to resist. "Undigested, acidic food waste causes our bodies to put on pounds because the body attempts to protect itself by converting the waste into fat and storing it in the fat cells," Kliment said.
To prevent the unhealthy effects of overeating the wrong foods. she advises that readers consume a few slices of fresh pineapple before, during or after they eat. Pineapple has such tremendous digestive power that it continues to ripen after it has been cut up.
A small Ziploc bag of sliced pineapple can fill you up if you eat a few pieces right before you sit down to a post-holiday meal. You will be amazed by the results when you don't gain weight or suffer from acid reflux. according to Kliment.
After all these advisories, some of you may be wondering if there is IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT FOR ME TO EAT?
IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT FOR ME TO EAT?
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Article 7 - Tips on becoming a sugar detective
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Sugar is
Sickness Under the Guise of Attractive Recipes Source:milliondollarbody.com; Joe Wilkes The average American eats approximately 1,500 pounds of food every year. Of that, 160 pounds are primarily sugar. Of course, sugar is delicious, and I know I'm the happier for its existence, but of all the things we consume, it has the least nutritive value. In fact, except for the energy in its calories, there's not much to recommend about sugar. It's a prime source of empty calories, and for those of us who are trying to lose weight, sugar's the first thing we should start trimming from our diets.
But here's the problem—despite our best intentions to remove excess sugar from our diet, the food industry has found more and more devious ways of slipping us the sweet stuff. Whether the food industry calls sugar by another name or adds it to foods we never thought would have needed it, our sweet tooth is constantly being bombarded. Fortunately, with stricter labeling laws, we have a fighting chance at cutting back on sugar.
Why does the food industry want to fill us so full of sugar? Click Here to Read More
Muriella's Corner where Millionaire Minds Meet
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